Early Saturday morning, a single-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 70 near Kipling Street in Wheat Ridge left one person dead and sent two others to the hospital, according to police. Westbound traffic was reduced to a single lane between Kipling Street and Wadsworth Boulevard while emergency crews worked the scene and investigators gathered evidence. Authorities have not released the names of those involved or the cause of the crash.
According to Denver7, the Wheat Ridge Police Department posted on X shortly after 7 a.m. The department's Wheat Ridge Police Department post on X said, "TRAFFIC ALERT: WRPD is investigating a single-vehicle crash on I-70 WB just east of Kipling. There is one fatality at this time and two people were transported to the hospital," and asked drivers to avoid the area while they investigate.
Crash history on I-70 near Kipling
The interchange at Kipling has been a trouble spot for years. A Colorado Department of Transportation safety assessment recorded 332 total crashes on the Kipling ramps during a recent three-year study and flagged westbound ramp backups and a lane drop as contributing factors. The assessment's figures underline recurring congestion and collision patterns at the interchange. A deadly semitruck rollover on the same stretch in August 2024 prompted additional reviews of work-zone practices, as reported by Colorado Public Radio.
Investigation and traffic impacts
Wheat Ridge police said their investigation is ongoing and that more details, including the cause of the crash and the identities of those involved, will be released when available. Motorists traveling through the area should expect delays and consult COtrip or local traffic resources for updates while lanes remain restricted. This article will be updated as the Wheat Ridge Police Department provides further information.
